Page 41 of The Golden Hour

Rob leans forward, forcing Mason to meet his eyes.

“The question is—are you going to let it?”

CHAPTER TEN

MASON

"Dr. Farah delivered Daisy by emergency C-section. The neonatal team has her. She has some healthy lungs.

Mason stands between his parents as Dr. Weaver explains the process to Melissa and Phil. Not him, because he already knows the process, but hearing that his daughter is breathing on her own, in the safe hands of St. Mary's neonatal team, provides some relief. Some. Not all.

Because Honey is still in surgery.

Melissa, with her head now bandaged, wasn't allowed in the room during the C-section. The thought of Honey all alone turns Mason's stomach and makes him feel sick. He knows logically, clinically, that she isn't alone. He knows there are doctors, anesthesiologists, nurses, techs, and the neonatal team all around her.

But they're not her mom.

They're not her dad.

They're not him.

Not that he deserves to be near her. He spent the last nine months not being around; he doesn't get to demand access now. He knows that.

He wants to hold her. He wants to apologize. He wants to drop to his knees beside whatever bed they put her in and beg her to understand that he is so fucking sorry. That he can fix this and be better. That she can come home and trust that she'll be safe there.

He meets his father's eyes. Guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree after all.

Addiction and genetics are a funny thing.

After Rob's question to Mason, he picked his son up off the locker room floor, told him to splash cold water on his face, and get changed out of his scrubs. Both Carpenter men walked up to the OR, where Marlene had her arms wrapped around Melissa. Phil was pacing up and down the hallway, fists curling and uncurling at his sides.

As soon as his dark eyes met Mason's, he stopped. Mason watched his entire body tense, and his face turned thunderous.

Rob stood a little behind Mason, but he didn't say anything as Phil stomped over, grabbed the front of Mason's T-shirt, and pulled his face close.

"We're going to have words soon," Phil growled quietly, glancing back over his shoulder at his weeping wife. His face softened for a brief moment, just long enough for Mason to see the terrified husband beneath the furious father. It was gone in a flash when he turned back to Mason.

"Not now, because I can't fucking think about anything but my little girl and my wife breaking apart over there, but you can fucking bet that you and I are going to talk. Is that clear?"

The fear barely penetrated the misery sitting heavy in Mason's chest, but his body still shuddered. He met his father-in-law's eyes head-on and nodded.

"Yes, sir."

Phil stared at him for a long time before shoving him back and turning toward Melissa. He sat on her other side, taking over for Marlene and wrapping his wife in his arms.

Melissa buried her face in Phil's chest, her body shaking with sobs, and he could hear him gently humming to comfort his wife. The sight of them made him ache, because he wanted to do that to his own wife.

He wanted to hold Honey in his arms, hum to her, make her giggle, make her smile, make her happy. He wanted to be the place where she could fall apart safely. He wanted to be the man she called for when she was scared.

She did try to call you.

You never answered.

His mother barely acknowledged Mason, which made him feel like shit as she walked right into Rob's waiting arms.

Now, as Dr. Weaver explains the process to Honey's parents, he has to squeeze his eyes closed against the images in his head. His mind, like it was taunting him, works through every step he knows of an emergency C-section.

A low transverse incision, three or four inches across, using a ten blade.